Patentable/Patents/US-6320975
US-6320975

Firearm holster lock with fingerprint identification means

PublishedNovember 20, 2001
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Disclosed is a retaining device for lockingly receiving a firearm wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard. The retaining device comprises a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion. A guide channel is positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm. A fingerprint identification means has a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent. Further provided is a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fails to match a stored fingerprint. The signal generating means is in electrical communication with and controls a firearm retaining means. The firearm retaining means has a first orientation securing the firearm within the holster and a second orientation allowing the firearm to be removed. The retaining means is in electrical communication with and responsive to signals from the signal generating means.

Patent Claims
5 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A retaining device for selectively lockingly receiving a firearm, wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard, the retaining device comprising, in combination: a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion, a guide channel positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm; a first solenoid-activated lunger secured upon an internal surface of the holster proximate the closed forward portion, a plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation; a second solenoid-activated plunger secured upon the internal surface of the holster proximate to the opened rearward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation; a steel-reinforced hammer strap adapted to be secured about the hammer of the firearm, the strap having a proximate end secured to the opened rearward portion of the holster and a distal end, a first lock secured to the distal end of the strap and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a second lock positioned upon an external surface of the holster adjacent the opened end; a fingerprint identification means having a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent, a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a specific stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fials to match a stored fingerprint, a signal generating means being in electrical communication with the first and second solenoid-activated plungers as well as the first and second magnetic locks; the signal generating means functioning such that when the first signal is generated, the first and second solenoid-activated plungers are activated and the first and second locks are selectively activated; the holster functioning such that when a firearm is placed in the interior of the holster and the first and second plungers are placed in the first engaged orientation and the first and second locks are coupled the firearm is secured, thereafter the firearm can only be retrieved by a user inputting a desired fingerprint image.

2

2. A retaining device for selectively lockingly receiving a firearm wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard, the retaining device comprising, in combination: a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion, a guide channel positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm; a fingerprint identification means having a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent, a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a specific stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fails to match a stored fingerprint; a signal generating means for generating first and second signals being in electrical communication with a firearm retaining means; an alarm which is in electrical communication with the signal generating means and which is activated when the second signal is generated; and firearm retaining means having a first orientation securing the firearm within the holster and a second orientation allowing the firearm to be removed, the retaining means being in electrical communication with and responsive to signals from the signal generating means.

3

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the firearm retaining means takes the form of a first solenoid-activated plunger secured upon an internal surface of the holster proximate the closed forward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation.

4

4. The device as described in claim 3 wherein the firearm retaining means also includes a second solenoid-activated plunger secured upon the internal surface of the holster proximate to the opened rearward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation.

5

5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the firearm retaining means also includes a reinforced hammer strap adapted to be secured about the hammer of the firearm, the strap having a proximate end secured to the opened rearward portion of the holster and a distal end, a first lock secured to the distal end of the strap and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a second lock positioned upon an external surface of the holster adjacent the opened end.

Classification Codes (CPC)

Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

April 22, 1999

Publication Date

November 20, 2001

Want to explore more patents?

Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.

Citation & reuse

Analysis on this page is generated by Patentable — an AI-powered patent intelligence platform. AI-generated summaries, explanations, and analysis may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL below. Patent abstracts and claims are USPTO public domain.

Cite as: Patentable. “Firearm holster lock with fingerprint identification means” (US-6320975). https://patentable.app/patents/US-6320975

© 2026 Patentable. All rights reserved.

Patentable is a research and drafting-assistant tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Documents we generate are drafts for review by a licensed patent attorney.